Illustration and Visual Narrative / Task 1 : Exercises
27/08/2021 - 24/09/2021 (Week 1 - Week 5)
Reagan Val Adelbert Mahadi / 0349177
Illustration and Visual Narrative / Bachelor of Design in Creative Media
Task 1 / Exercise 1 & 2
LECTURES
Week 1
Shapes
Shapes define a character's silhouette. It is used to identify a character from one another. Shapes is usually what sets the iconic look of the character.
Fig. 1.1 Aladdin character shapes
Color
Colors play an important role in determining who are the protagonists or antagonists. Different choices of colors also give an impression on a character. Colors have qualities that can cause certain emotions in people.
Emphasis and Contrast
To create a good character design, we have to pick one visual element in a character and exaggerate it, making the character outstanding and memorable. Picking a cultural element and adding it into a design makes it uniquely authentic.
Fig. 1.2 Hades character design
Harmony
All shapes, lines, colors, motifs, patterns must be put together in a tasteful manner. Every element used in a character design must work together like they compliment each other. A balance of visual elements that has a visual hierarchy.
Expressions / Poses
To make a character win the heart of the audience is their behavior/quirks/personalities that are visually shown. Whenever a character has expressions/poses the audience can immediately interpret them.
Fig. 1.3 Expressions
Week 3
During our third week in this module, Ms. Jennifer started it by introducing to us about pathfinder tool and the shape builder tool. She used these tools for her character design. She also used the gradient tool so that the character would look better. After some time, she eventually finished giving gradients to the character and begin creating the card design. She showed us how to use the knife tool as well. After Ms. Jennifer has finished designing the card design, we then proceed to the lecture.
Ms. Anis presented to us about composition.
Types of compositions:
INSTRUCTIONS
Task 1: Exercises - Vormator Shapes
For this week's exercise, Ms. Anis asked us to create a character by using the given sets of shapes. We are needed to start it with a sketch of the character then use Adobe Illustrator to create the final design.
Fig. 4.1 First sketch
Fig. 4.2 Second sketch
FEEDBACK
Week 2
Ms. Anis suggested me to pick the second sketch for this task because it contains expressions in it compared to the first sketch.
Week 3
Ms. Anis suggested me to create a dark background for my character design. She also mentioned that I need to work on the character that is being chased.
Week 4
Ms. Anis and Ms. Jennifer told me that I needed to change the font and also change the background for my card design because it has similar color to the ground. They said that my composition is already fine.
Week 5
Ms. Anis and Ms. Jennifer suggested me to add a rock texture to my card background because without the texture the background has some empty space. They also said that the color combination for red and green is not really good so Ms. Anis said that I should darken the red color to avoid bad contrast.
REFLECTIONS
Week 1
For the first week, I had a really fun time drawing a sketch for the characters. Even though it was a little hard to imagine creating a character with the vormator shapes, I still find it enjoyable and challenging thus making it a really interesting task. I'm looking forward to the next week.
Week 2
This week's exercise is pretty fun. I had a really fun time making my character on Illustrator. Other than that, I'm also starting to get pretty used to using the pen tool because most of the modules I take uses the pen tool. The lecture is not really confusing and I pretty much understand what Ms. Anis is explaining.
Week 3
This week's exercise allows me to explore further of Illustrator. I had to watch some videos on YouTube to know some new tools that I need to use in this task. This task is pretty fun and I enjoy it a lot. As for lecture, I pretty much understand it.
Week 4
This week's exercise had a lot of thing to do. I had to finalize everything for my exercise and remake some of my works. I explored a lot of websites to find some inspirations for my work during the process of doing this. I also tried on new tools inside the Illustrator software, so this is a good time for me to experiment on it.
Reagan Val Adelbert Mahadi / 0349177
Illustration and Visual Narrative / Bachelor of Design in Creative Media
Task 1 / Exercise 1 & 2
LECTURES
Week 1
For our first meeting here, Ms. Anis and Ms. Jennifer introduced themselves
and also the module to us. Ms. Anis explained what we are gonna do in this
module and what kind of exercises will we be doing throughout the semester.
After hearing the explanation, I feel really excited about the exercises that
we will do. Ms. Anis also shared work from past students about a one-shot
story. She then proceeds on showing the animation for the one-shot story as
well. Looking at the work made me feel impressed and I'm really looking
forward to this module.
Week 2
For our second week, Ms. Jennifer demonstrates to us how to create your character with the vormator shapes. She showed us her sketch for her character and also taught us how to use the pen tool. She created the shapes with the use of pen tool and began creating her character. Not long after she finished creating her character, Ms. Anis wanted to see our character sketches in class. She gave feedback on our character designs and suggested how to make them better. After reviewing most of us, she then proceeds on lecturing.
During the lecture, she explains about Principles of Character Design
Week 2
For our second week, Ms. Jennifer demonstrates to us how to create your character with the vormator shapes. She showed us her sketch for her character and also taught us how to use the pen tool. She created the shapes with the use of pen tool and began creating her character. Not long after she finished creating her character, Ms. Anis wanted to see our character sketches in class. She gave feedback on our character designs and suggested how to make them better. After reviewing most of us, she then proceeds on lecturing.
During the lecture, she explains about Principles of Character Design
Shapes
Shapes define a character's silhouette. It is used to identify a character from one another. Shapes is usually what sets the iconic look of the character.
Fig. 1.1 Aladdin character shapes
Colors play an important role in determining who are the protagonists or antagonists. Different choices of colors also give an impression on a character. Colors have qualities that can cause certain emotions in people.
Emphasis and Contrast
To create a good character design, we have to pick one visual element in a character and exaggerate it, making the character outstanding and memorable. Picking a cultural element and adding it into a design makes it uniquely authentic.
Harmony
All shapes, lines, colors, motifs, patterns must be put together in a tasteful manner. Every element used in a character design must work together like they compliment each other. A balance of visual elements that has a visual hierarchy.
Expressions / Poses
To make a character win the heart of the audience is their behavior/quirks/personalities that are visually shown. Whenever a character has expressions/poses the audience can immediately interpret them.
Fig. 1.3 Expressions
Week 3
During our third week in this module, Ms. Jennifer started it by introducing to us about pathfinder tool and the shape builder tool. She used these tools for her character design. She also used the gradient tool so that the character would look better. After some time, she eventually finished giving gradients to the character and begin creating the card design. She showed us how to use the knife tool as well. After Ms. Jennifer has finished designing the card design, we then proceed to the lecture.
Ms. Anis presented to us about composition.
Types of compositions:
- Establishing
- Bird's eye view
- "Framing"
- Medium shot
- Close-up
- Worm's eye view
A good composition must have a balanced distribution of positive and
negative spaces.
Fig. 2.1 Positive and negative spaces
Fig. 2.2 Positive and negative spaces
Fig. 2.1 Positive and negative spaces
Fig. 2.2 Positive and negative spaces
Week 4
During our fourth week in this module, Ms. Anis starts by explaining to us the deadline for our first task and what are the requirements for us to submit it. After she has finished explaining everything we need to do for our task, we then proceed with the lecture. In this lecture, she presented to us about perspectives.
Perspectives in art is used to create depth, acts as an illusion, and can be used as a representation of objects. Perspectives can create a 3D optical illusion just from a 2D surface.
Types of perspectives:
Fig. 3.1 One point perspective
Fig. 3.2 Two point perspective
Fig. 3.3 Three point perspective
During our fourth week in this module, Ms. Anis starts by explaining to us the deadline for our first task and what are the requirements for us to submit it. After she has finished explaining everything we need to do for our task, we then proceed with the lecture. In this lecture, she presented to us about perspectives.
Perspectives in art is used to create depth, acts as an illusion, and can be used as a representation of objects. Perspectives can create a 3D optical illusion just from a 2D surface.
Types of perspectives:
- 1 point
- 2 point
- 3 point
- 4-5 points (fisheye)
Fig. 3.1 One point perspective
Fig. 3.2 Two point perspective
Fig. 3.3 Three point perspective
There is one simple method of perspective that is often used
in comics which is the parallax effect. The parallax effect
uses layers to depict depth.
Fig. 3.4 Parallax effect
Fig. 3.4 Parallax effect
After we finished the lecture, we then presented the task
that we did last week. After Ms. Anis and Ms. Jennifer
gave feedback to some of us, Ms. Jennifer proceeds to
continue showing us tips in Illustrator by showing us on
creating a background for her character.
INSTRUCTIONS
Task 1: Exercises - Vormator Shapes
For this week's exercise, Ms. Anis asked us to create a character by using the given sets of shapes. We are needed to start it with a sketch of the character then use Adobe Illustrator to create the final design.
Fig. 4.1 First sketch
Fig. 4.2 Second sketch
I got the idea of creating a zombie-like character from a game I
play.
Fig. 4.3 Undying
I drew 3 sketches and made 2 characters. I drew a zombie and a wizard, and I decided to pick the second sketch out of all the sketches for this task. I ended up choosing the zombie over the wizard. Since there are 2 sketches of it, I made up my mind to pick the second sketch. The reason is that I feel like the sketch is livelier compared to the first sketch. I just think that standing still character just feels off or awkward.
Digitisation
I started to digitise my work in week 2. First, I used the vormator shapes to create it in illustrator.
After I finished it, I create the vormator shapes to finish on my character. I adjusted some things to make it look better and also added colors for my character.
Fig. 4.6 Digitisation progress
After receiving some feedback from Ms. Anis and Ms. Jennifer, I decided
to make some changes for the purple character, make some color changes
for the zombie, and make a dark background.
Fig. 4.7 Digitisation progress
Final Character Design
Fig. 4.8 Final character design - JPEG
Fig. 4.3 Undying
Fig. 4.4 Third sketch
I drew 3 sketches and made 2 characters. I drew a zombie and a wizard, and I decided to pick the second sketch out of all the sketches for this task. I ended up choosing the zombie over the wizard. Since there are 2 sketches of it, I made up my mind to pick the second sketch. The reason is that I feel like the sketch is livelier compared to the first sketch. I just think that standing still character just feels off or awkward.
Digitisation
I started to digitise my work in week 2. First, I used the vormator shapes to create it in illustrator.
After I finished it, I create the vormator shapes to finish on my character. I adjusted some things to make it look better and also added colors for my character.
Fig. 4.7 Digitisation progress
I made some little changes to my character. I added small lanterns
into it.
Fig. 4.8 Digitisation progress
Fig. 4.9 Final character design - PDF
Vector Illustration
After we are done with our character design, we continue on doing our next exercise which is vector illustration. We were told to create a card design layout for our character. We are free to use any tools in the Illustrator software so this time it is more flexible. I created a sketch for my front card design:
I was inspired by the Hearthstone card designs.
Fig. 5.2 Hearthstone card designs
I made some changes to the background of the card and also used the pen tool to create my character's name. I also changed the font for the numbers and descriptions.
Before I start on digitising my back card design, I made a sketch for it.
Then I start on making it on Illustrator. I used the pen tool to this.
Fig. 5.6 Backcard design progress
For the hand, I used the pen tool to create it, while I used the brush tool for the outlines.
Fig. 5.7 Backcard design progress
Fig. 5.8 Backcard design progress
Fig. 5.9 Reference
Fig. 5.10 Backcard design progress
I asked for another feedback on the fifth week before submission so that I can make some changes to make the card design better.
Fig. 5.11 Front card design progress
Fig. 5.12 Front card design progress
For the back card, I also used the same rock texture as the front card. I also darken the red color for the blood to avoid bad contrast with the green color.
Fig. 5.13 Back card design progress
Final Vector Illustration
After we are done with our character design, we continue on doing our next exercise which is vector illustration. We were told to create a card design layout for our character. We are free to use any tools in the Illustrator software so this time it is more flexible. I created a sketch for my front card design:
Fig. 5.1 Card design sketch
I was inspired by the Hearthstone card designs.
Fig. 5.2 Hearthstone card designs
Then, I started digitising my sketch to Illustrator and came up
like this:
Fig. 5.3 Card design first attempt
After receiving some feedback from Ms. Anis and Ms. Jennifer, I
had to make some changes to my card design and start on creating
the back card design.
Fig. 5.4 Card design progress
I made some changes to the background of the card and also used the pen tool to create my character's name. I also changed the font for the numbers and descriptions.
Before I start on digitising my back card design, I made a sketch for it.
Fig. 5.5 Back card sketch
Then I start on making it on Illustrator. I used the pen tool to this.
Fig. 5.6 Backcard design progress
For the hand, I used the pen tool to create it, while I used the brush tool for the outlines.
Fig. 5.7 Backcard design progress
I tried to use lines and shapes for the background of my back
card design, but I felt that it look a bit weird and so I
decided to try on using a blood summoning ritual circle as a
background for it.
Fig. 5.10 Backcard design progress
I asked for another feedback on the fifth week before submission so that I can make some changes to make the card design better.
Fig. 5.11 Front card design progress
I added a rock texture to my gray background by using the
transparency tool. I also used another rock texture in the
description box. I also changed the typeface from serif to
sans serif. I decided to make it bold to make the reader
easier to read the texts.
Fig. 5.12 Front card design progress
For the back card, I also used the same rock texture as the front card. I also darken the red color for the blood to avoid bad contrast with the green color.
Fig. 5.13 Back card design progress
Final Vector Illustration
FEEDBACK
Week 2
Ms. Anis suggested me to pick the second sketch for this task because it contains expressions in it compared to the first sketch.
Week 3
Ms. Anis suggested me to create a dark background for my character design. She also mentioned that I need to work on the character that is being chased.
Week 4
Ms. Anis and Ms. Jennifer told me that I needed to change the font and also change the background for my card design because it has similar color to the ground. They said that my composition is already fine.
Week 5
Ms. Anis and Ms. Jennifer suggested me to add a rock texture to my card background because without the texture the background has some empty space. They also said that the color combination for red and green is not really good so Ms. Anis said that I should darken the red color to avoid bad contrast.
REFLECTIONS
Week 1
For the first week, I had a really fun time drawing a sketch for the characters. Even though it was a little hard to imagine creating a character with the vormator shapes, I still find it enjoyable and challenging thus making it a really interesting task. I'm looking forward to the next week.
Week 2
This week's exercise is pretty fun. I had a really fun time making my character on Illustrator. Other than that, I'm also starting to get pretty used to using the pen tool because most of the modules I take uses the pen tool. The lecture is not really confusing and I pretty much understand what Ms. Anis is explaining.
Week 3
This week's exercise allows me to explore further of Illustrator. I had to watch some videos on YouTube to know some new tools that I need to use in this task. This task is pretty fun and I enjoy it a lot. As for lecture, I pretty much understand it.
Week 4
This week's exercise had a lot of thing to do. I had to finalize everything for my exercise and remake some of my works. I explored a lot of websites to find some inspirations for my work during the process of doing this. I also tried on new tools inside the Illustrator software, so this is a good time for me to experiment on it.
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